One of the most popular contestants yesterday was Miss House of Gold; Alexandra Iakopo, who spoke about the traditional role of women in families and society.

“In order to identify the changes in the role of women and determine the effects of these changes on our people; we have to understand the different roles through what we were, what we are now and what we will become,” she said.

“What are the changes? The change that we see is the transition of women from women staying at home to more women being educated and occupying management roles.

“The decline of status in women village committee and increase of status and participation in groups such as the now modern Women in Business.

“To me, these changes have made many Samoan women discover their potential and opened numerous possibilities for our women to contribute in the development of our society.

“In the words of Brigham Young he said, “You educate a man, you educate a man. You educate a woman, she educates a generation.”